Wrist Injury Settlement Amounts (Fractures, Sprains & Surgery)

Wrist injuries are common in car accidents, slip and fall incidents, and workplace accidents. The natural instinct to brace yourself during a fall or collision often results in significant force being transmitted through the wrist, leading to fractures, sprains, and ligament damage.

This guide covers average settlement amounts for wrist injuries, factors that affect your claim value, and how to maximize your compensation.

Types of Wrist Injuries

Distal radius fractures are the most common type of wrist fracture, occurring when the larger of the two forearm bones breaks near the wrist joint. Scaphoid fractures involve a small bone on the thumb side of the wrist and are notorious for being difficult to diagnose and slow to heal. TFCC tears involve the triangular fibrocartilage complex, a structure that stabilizes the wrist joint. Carpal tunnel syndrome can develop after wrist trauma when swelling compresses the median nerve. Ligament sprains and tears range from mild stretching to complete rupture.

Average Wrist Injury Settlement Amounts

Wrist sprains without fracture settle for $5,000 to $25,000. Simple wrist fractures treated with casting settle for $15,000 to $60,000. Wrist fractures requiring surgical fixation settle for $50,000 to $175,000. Complex wrist fractures with multiple surgeries settle for $100,000 to $350,000. Wrist injuries with permanent limitations settle for $150,000 to $500,000 or more.

Factors That Affect Your Settlement

The type and severity of the fracture is the primary factor. Displaced fractures requiring surgery are worth significantly more than stable fractures treated with casting. The need for surgery increases the settlement value due to higher medical expenses, longer recovery, and greater pain and suffering.

Whether the injury affects your dominant hand is an important factor. A wrist injury to your dominant hand has a greater impact on your daily life and ability to work, which increases the settlement value. Your occupation matters significantly. If you work with your hands in occupations such as construction, surgery, music, or typing, a wrist injury can have a devastating impact on your earning capacity.

The development of complications such as post-traumatic arthritis, chronic pain, reduced grip strength, or limited range of motion increases the settlement value. Hardware implantation with plates and screws adds to the medical expenses and may require future removal surgery.

Treatment and Recovery

Non-surgical treatment involves casting or splinting for four to eight weeks followed by physical therapy. Surgical treatment involves open reduction and internal fixation with plates and screws, followed by splinting and physical therapy. Recovery from wrist surgery typically takes three to six months.

Scaphoid fractures deserve special mention because they have a high rate of nonunion, meaning the bone fails to heal properly. Nonunion of a scaphoid fracture often requires bone graft surgery and has a longer recovery period.

Documenting Your Wrist Injury

Keep copies of all X-rays and imaging studies. Document your grip strength and range of motion limitations. Maintain a journal of how the injury affects your daily activities such as writing, typing, cooking, and dressing. Keep records of all medical expenses and lost wages. Photograph your wrist at various stages of recovery including any surgical scars.

Conclusion

Wrist injury settlements range from $5,000 for minor sprains to $500,000 or more for complex fractures with permanent limitations. The key factors are the type of injury, need for surgery, impact on your dominant hand, and effect on your occupation.

Use our free settlement calculator to estimate what your wrist injury case might be worth.